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Tsalenjikha Municipality
Municipality
The Enguri Valley
FlagSeal
Location of the municipality within Georgia
Coordinates: 42°40′12″N 42°02′59″E / 42.67000°N 42.04972°E / 42.67000; 42.04972
Country	Georgia
Region	Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti
Administrative centre	Tsalenjikha
Government
• Body	Tsalenjikha Municipal Assembly
• Mayor	Giorgi (Gia) Kharchilava (UNM)
Area
• Total	646.7 km (249.7 sq mi)
Population
• Total	26.158
• Density	40.4/km (105/sq mi)
Population by ethnicity
• Georgians	99,56  %
• Russians	0,27 %
• Ukrainians	0,08 %
Time zone	UTC+4 (Georgian Standard Time)
Website	tsalenjikha.gov.ge

Tsalenjikha (Georgian: წალენჯიხის მუნიციპალიტეტი, Ċalenjixis municiṗaliṫeṫi) is a district of Georgia, in the region of Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti. Its main town is Tsalenjikha. Tsalenjikha Municipality is located in the valleys of the Enguri and Chanistskali rivers, the area is 646.7 km2, the population is 26,158 people (2014). The municipality includes 14 administrative units, including 2 cities Tsalenjikha and Jvari.

History

Tsalenjikha, Megrelian "Tsendikha", Chanistskali Megrelian "Tsentskari" River and such names of the geographical point are confirmed by both Georgian and foreign sources. Tsalenjikha and its environs were the original settlement of western Georgian tribes.

It is known from historical sources that the territory of the municipality was inhabited even when people used stone and bronze tools. Western Georgian tribes have been living on the territory of Tsalenjikha since that time. This is indicated by the names of this point and the river "Chelenjikha", "Tsendikha" Tsalenjikha.

In the 10th and 11th centuries, Tsalenjikha was an important settlement, as evidenced by such a large and important church as the Church of the Transfiguration. From this time on, the importance of Tsalenjikha gradually increased so that by the 13th and 14th centuries it became the only residence of the Dadiani. Here they had a palace, utensils (treasures) and apparently an ancestral tomb as well. Such an increase in the importance of Tsalenjikha led to the relocation of one of the most important dioceses of Odisha to Tsalenjikha in the 14th century. The relocation of the episcopal center to Tsalenjikha led to large-scale construction, as well as the painting of the Tsalenjikha Church during the 14th century during the reign of Vamek Dadiani (1384–1396).

Ak. Simon Janashia undoubtedly believes that 'Tseni' or 'Tsani' 'was one of the tribes of the Chanuri-Megrelian branch and not their own Zani'. (Tsen-Dikha) and the river that flowed into the castle (Tsen-water).

Materials about Tsalenjikha's past are taken from Inga Lortkipanidze's book - Tsalenjikha Painting, by Simon Janashia and Shota Meskhia.

In 2001, the village of Lia was the site of the Lia radiological accident.

Historical sites

• Tsalenjikha Cathedral
• The ruins of Gamajistsikhe
• Katskhara Fortress
• Samikao Cave
• Episcopal Church
• Jagiri Castle
• St. Barbara's Church
• Uluria Castle
• "Mamukia Tower"
• "Dilakirse" fortress
• The ruins of Skuri Castle
• The ruins of Lesale Castle
• Jgali conical tower
• St. Nicholas Church in Jgali
• Church of the All-Holy Mother of God on the Cross
• Omune Castle-Tower

Politics

Tsalenjikha Municipal Assembly (Georgian: წალენჯიხის საკრებულო) is a representative body in Tsalenjikha Municipality. The council assembles into session regularly, to consider subject matters such as code changes, utilities, taxes, city budget, oversight of Municipal government and more. Tsalenjikha Sakrebulo is elected every four year. The last election was held in October 2021.

Tsalenjikha was one of only seven municipalities where ruling Georgian Dream party failed to gain a majority. After several attempts, the opposition parties UNM, For Georgia and Lelo agreed on a chairman of the Sakrebulo, four weeks after neighboring municipality Chkhorotsqu did the same.

Results in local election

Municipal Assembly

Party		Party list			Constituency			Total seats	+/–
		Votes	%	Seats	Votes	%	Seats
	United National Movement	5,439	37.78	7			4	11	8
	Georgian Dream	5,008	34.79	7			4	11	13
	For Georgia	2,730	18.96	3			1	4	New
	Lelo	482	3.35	1				1	New
	European Georgia	310	2.15						2
	Alliance of Patriots	107	0.74						1
	Labour Party	102	0.71
	Strategy Aghmashenebeli	95	0.66
	New Political Center - Girchi	75	0.52						New
	Other parties	47	0.36
Invalid/blank votes
Total		14,395	100	18			9	27
Registered voters/turnout		28,737	51.11
Source: CEC

Mayor

Municipal Assembly 2017-2021

Notable natives

• Meliton Kantaria (1920 – 1993) – was a Georgian sergeant of the Soviet Army credited with having hoisted a Soviet flag over the Reichstag on 30 April 1945.
• Terenti Graneli (1897 – 1934) – was a noted Georgian poet.
• Aneta Dadeshkeliani (1872–1922) – was a Georgian poet, educator and social reformer.
• Nikoloz Shengelaia (1903 – 1943) – was a Soviet Georgian film director.
• Leo Kiacheli (1884 – 1963) – was a Georgian novelist, short story writer, and journalist.
• Badri Kvaratskhelia (b. 1965) – a former Georgian footballer.
• Givi Kvaratskhelia (b. 1979) – a retired Georgian footballer.
• Georgi Tsurtsumia (b. 1980) – a wrestler who competed in the Men's Greco-Roman 120 kg at the 2004 Summer Olympics and won the silver medal.
• Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (b. 2001) – is a Georgian professional footballer who plays as a winger for the Italian Serie A side S.S.C. Napoli and the Georgia national team.

See also

• List of municipalities in Georgia (country)

Explanatory notes

1. Nana Lemonjava - split from For Georgia.

References

1. "მერი - წალენჯიხის მუნიციპალიტეტი" (in Georgian). Tsalenjikha.gov.ge. Retrieved 2021-06-19.
2. "Ethnic composition of Georgia 2014". Pop-stat.mashke.org. Retrieved 2021-06-19.
3. "Ისტორია".
4. The radiological accident in Lia, Georgia. Vienna: International Atomic Energy Agency. 2014. ISBN 978-92-0-103614-8. OCLC 900016880.
5. "Protocol elected municipal council members and mayors 2021" (PDF) (in Georgian). CESKO Central Election Commission. p. 67-68. Retrieved 2022-03-03.
6. "Opposition Elects Chair in Hung Tsalenjikha Sakrebulo". Civil.ge. 2022-01-20. Retrieved 2022-01-20.
7. "Two Sakrebulo Members Quit Gakharia's Party in Contested Municipalities". Civil.ge. 2021-10-29. Retrieved 2022-01-20.

External links

• Districts of Georgia, Statoids.com

v t e Municipalities of Georgia
Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia	Gagra Gali Gudauta Gulripshi Ochamchire Sokhumi
Autonomous Republic of Adjara	Batumi Keda Khelvachauri Khulo Kobuleti Shuakhevi
Guria	Chokhatauri Lanchkhuti Ozurgeti
Imereti	Kutaisi Baghdati Chiatura Kharagauli Khoni Sachkhere Samtredia Terjola Tkibuli Tsqaltubo Vani Zestafoni
Kakheti	Akhmeta Dedoplistsqaro Gurjaani Kvareli Lagodekhi Sagarejo Sighnaghi Telavi
Mtskheta-Mtianeti	Akhalgori Dusheti Kazbegi Mtskheta Tianeti
Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti	Ambrolauri Lentekhi Oni Tsageri
Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti	Poti Abasha Chkhorotsku Khobi Martvili Mestia Senaki Tsalenjikha Zugdidi
Samtskhe-Javakheti	Adigeni Akhalkalaki Akhaltsikhe Aspindza Borjomi Ninotsminda
Kvemo Kartli	Rustavi Bolnisi Dmanisi Gardabani Marneuli Tetritsqaro Tsalka
Shida Kartli	Gori Kareli Kaspi Khashuri Java

• Municipalities of Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti